Redox OS, a microkernel-based operating system written in Rust, now supports the RISC-V architecture. This includes support in the kernel, toolchain, build process, and Orbital Desktop.
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What is Redox OS?
Redox OS is a Unix-like operating system that aims to bring the innovations of Rust to a modern microkernel. It aspires to be a complete alternative to Linux and BSD. Redox is inspired by Plan 9, Minix, seL4, BSD, and Linux.
What is RISC-V?
RISC-V is an open-source instruction set architecture (ISA). It is based on the reduced instruction set computing (RISC) principles. Because it is open, RISC-V can be freely used for any purpose, allowing anyone to design, manufacture, and sell RISC-V chips and software.
Why is RISC-V support important for Redox?
RISC-V's open nature aligns with the philosophy of Redox, which is also open-source. Supporting RISC-V expands the potential hardware compatibility of Redox, allowing it to run on a wider range of devices.
Who made it happen?
Andrey Turkin contributed extensively to the kernel, toolchain, and other components to enable RISC-V support. Jeremy Soller integrated RISC-V support into the toolchain and build process. He also began refactoring the kernel and device drivers to better handle all supported architectures. Soller also got the Orbital Desktop, Redox's GUI, working in QEMU, a hardware emulator.
Other major improvements
Here are the major improvements and new features implemented in Redox OS during October 2024:
Raspberry Pi 4 Booting:
Jeremy Soller got Redox OS to boot on the Raspberry Pi 4 board, displaying the Orbital login screen. Further work is needed on USB support to make it fully usable.
COSMIC Store Ported:
The COSMIC Store was ported to Redox OS, allowing users to browse and install packages. This was achieved by updating configuration files to comply with FreeDesktop standards.
pkgar Package Format:
The pkgar package format is now enabled by default, replacing the tar.gz format.
ARM64 Packages Enabled:
Jeremy Soller enabled ARM64 packages on the build server.
New Programs and Ports:
Several new programs and libraries were ported to Redox OS, including:
- RVVM RISC-V emulator
- LuaJIT
- QuakeSpasm engine
- OpenTyrian game
- GLEW library
Other Notable Improvements:
- A new Redox OS/RFCs room was created on Redox Matrix for discussing architectural concepts and proposed new features.
- Various kernel, driver, RedoxFS, and relibc improvements were implemented, including bug fixes, optimizations, and refactoring.
- The build system, CI, and documentation also received updates and improvements.
- A new "From Nothing To Hello World" page was added to the Redox Book, providing a quick guide for testing Redox OS and running a simple program.
What's next?
Redox OS is a work in progress, but the addition of RISC-V support is a big step forward. Future work will likely focus on improving RISC-V support, including enabling more drivers and improving performance.
The Redox team encourages those with expertise in capability-based security, sandboxing, and microkernel performance, among other architectural concepts, to contribute to the project.
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